I have a '92 17' Bigfoot--new to me.
In this power outage stuff we have going on Western Washington I have had to use the Bigfoot for cooking and a shower.
I fired up the water heater--which seems to run fine, except that the water is never more than luke-warm.
It does fire up and shut off as you would expect in a normal operation.
Before I take it to the rv center, I though I would ask your opinions on this problem.
Anything I can fix myself-new thermostat or?
Thanks!

Sorry to hear you are one of the MANY people affected by the power outage Bonnie! I just responded in Buck62's topic about why I rethinking removing the propane system in my trailer...you've just reinforced that thought. How fortunate us molded lightweight fiberglass trailer folk are...we can be relatively comfortable if Mother Nature throws her fury at us.

To get back on topic, I can't offer any solution that hasn't already been mentioned...my water heater is electric only

On electric-ignition models of water heater, the thermostat(s) are just little disc-thingies that attach to the tank and are held there by a black foam blanket about 4"x4" or so. They are easily replaced, and not terribly expensive; about $20 for the electronic ignition variety. The pilot style gas valve/thermostat will run about $100. If you get a solid blue flame, there's likely nothing wrong with your burner, or anything in the tube. The slightest obstruction gives a sickly yellow flame with lots of soot. You'd spot that pretty quickly.

Sorry to hear you are one of the MANY people affected by the power outage Bonnie! I just responded in Buck62's topic about why I rethinking removing the propane system in my trailer...you've just reinforced that thought. How fortunate us molded lightweight fiberglass trailer folk are...we can be relatively comfortable if Mother Nature throws her fury at us.

To get back on topic, I can't offer any solution that hasn't already been mentioned...my water heater is electric only

Thank you Donna.
Yep--tonight starts the 5th night without power. I love having the trailer---even if the main house runs out of propane for the fire--I could move to the Bigfoot and be quite comfortable. All except for that nasty cold shower!!

On electric-ignition models of water heater, the thermostat(s) are just little disc-thingies that attach to the tank and are held there by a black foam blanket about 4"x4" or so. They are easily replaced, and not terribly expensive; about $20 for the electronic ignition variety. The pilot style gas valve/thermostat will run about $100. If you get a solid blue flame, there's likely nothing wrong with your burner, or anything in the tube. The slightest obstruction gives a sickly yellow flame with lots of soot. You'd spot that pretty quickly.

Most RV dealers carry the thermostats in stock and it's only an easy couple of minute job to replace them. That'd be the first thing I'd do. There really isn't anything else to go wrong.

Roger

Thanks for the info, Roger. I appreciate it.
This is a pilot --manual lite unit. I'll go over to the RV place tomorrow and see if they have a new thermostat. Hopefully I will be able to install it myself. The flame is very blue, no soot and seems quite adequate---so hopefully it is the thermostat.
It is still hovering in the high 20's--low 30's here at night---so you have to be pretty desperate to brave the shower bit!
Thanks again!

Update!
OK--I spent most of the day troubleshooting this with the RV people.
A very nice parts guy spent a lot of time looking the water heater over--adjusted the airflow etc. etc.

I purchased a new contoller to install, since after much testing there was still just lukewarm water.

They originally asked me if a bypass valve had been installed on the trailer---so I went home to look for that--no I didn't see one.

I started to get ready to install the new controller. I noticed when I went to dump the water in the tank it was VERY HOT!
That led me to another search for THE valve--which is of course there (part of the original installation.
Turned the valve and voile! All the hot water you want.

After spending the whole day getting ready to take a hot shower--got everything set up, walked in the door of the house and after 5 days of no power the lights came on!